The Edmonton Oilers have been chasing a true No. 1 goalie for a long time, and the hole has been there through the entire Connor McDavid era.
For a stretch, Cam Talbot was as close as they got. He gave Edmonton several strong seasons, and his 2016-17 campaign stood out above the rest: 73 games, a 42-22-8 record, a 2.39 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. He also posted 31.2 goals saved above expected, the best single-season mark by any Oilers goalie during the McDavid era by more than 10 GSAx.
Talbot was traded by the Oilers to the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2018-19 season. He remains unsigned today, but has played well into his 30s and served as the Detroit Red Wings’ backstop this past season.
Since Talbot moved on, Edmonton has continued to search for stability in net. Stuart Skinner was the best option, according to the source, before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025 and later signing with the Winnipeg Jets as an unrestricted free agent.
That backdrop makes the Oilers’ 2021 NHL Draft decision look even worse in hindsight.
Heading into that draft, Edmonton held the 20th overall pick and had a chance to land one of two highly regarded goaltenders: Sebastian Cossa of the Edmonton Oil Kings and Jesper Wallstedt of Sweden. Wallstedt was viewed as the bigger prize, but both were considered strong bets to become NHL-caliber goalies.
On draft day, Wallstedt was sliding. By most rankings, he was supposed to go in the lottery range at 16th overall, but Cossa went 15th to the Detroit Red Wings and Wallstedt was still there when the Oilers were on the clock. It seemed like Edmonton might finally get the franchise goalie it had been looking for since Devan Dubnyk, who went on to realize his potential after being traded by the Oilers.
Instead, general manager Ken Holland moved the pick. Edmonton sent No. 20 to the Minnesota Wild and got back the 22nd selection plus a third-round pick at 90th overall.
Minnesota wasted no time taking Wallstedt.
The Oilers used the 22nd pick on Xavier Bourgault and Luca Munzenberger, and five years later the decision looks painful, especially with Wallstedt now developing into what the source describes as an elite goalie.
In Other News...
Former Oilers Blueliner Is Still Fighting For His NHL Future
Several former Maple Leafs are still waiting to see whether an NHL opportunity opens up before the 2026-27 season, and one of the names in that group will be familiar to Oilers fans. Ben Hutton, Ryan Reaves, Michael Bunting, Calle Jarnkrok, John Klingberg and Matt Benning remain unsigned free agents as the Maple Leafs are expected to stand pat after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, leaving a handful of veterans in limbo as the market settles.
For Edmonton, Benning is the most relevant of that bunch, since the former Oilers blueliner is still trying to extend his NHL future. The article notes that Toronto is not expected to make another move before next season, which only tightens the path for players on the outside looking in, and Bennings case now sits alongside a few other familiar names whose recent performances will have to persuade another club that they still belong. [Read more 🡒]
Six Current Oilers Share A Forgotten Hlinka Gretzky Cup Connection
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is coming back to Edmonton from Aug. 3 to 8, bringing some of the best under-18 players in the world to a city that has seen plenty of elite hockey before. For Oilers fans, the tournament also serves as a reminder that the event is more than a development showcase, because several current Edmonton players once skated in it on their way toward the NHL.
Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Murphy and Evan Bouchard are among the six Oilers with that connection, and each one has a different piece of Hlinka Gretzky history attached to his path. The tournament has been a useful early marker for NHL talent for years, and Edmontons current roster quietly reflects how often that stage has overlapped with eventual big-league success. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Still Have One Obvious Fit If Vancouver Changes Course
Brock Boesers name has resurfaced in trade chatter after a summer extension and a round of organizational change in Vancouver, where the Canucks now appear to be weighing ways to trim payroll. Boesers no-movement clause gives him control, but if both sides find common ground, the conversation could shift quickly around a player who has long been viewed as one of the more recognizable pieces in the market.
For Edmonton, the fit is easy to see if Vancouver ever decides to move on. The Oilers are one of the teams that would naturally circle such a scenario, even with Ottawa and Philadelphia also mentioned as possible destinations, because a player of Boesers profile would instantly become one of the more interesting names available. For now, though, it remains a question of whether Vancouver truly changes course and whether the market ever gets the chance to react. [Read more 🡒]